Pirates GM: Kang's recovery 'gone as well as we could've hoped'

Jung Ho Kang is moving in the right direction as he recovers from surgery that prematurely ended his impressive rookie campaign, but it's still going to be some time before he's ready for a return to baseball activities.

"We're still a ways away from having a better feel for when he'll be ready," general manager Neil Huntington said Wednesday during a radio interview, according to MLB.com. "But at this point in time, it's gone as well as we could have hoped."

Kang underwent surgery for a displaced lateral tibial plateau fracture and lateral meniscal repair in his left knee in mid-September after a takeout slide from Chris Coghlan of the Chicago Cubs.

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

Kang is expected to make a return sometime between March and May, and the 28-year-old looks to be on track in his recovery.

"He has checked every box medically that he can check right now. He's bored to tears," Huntington told reporters last week at the general managers meetings. "This is an active guy who is dealing with a significant injury. He's progressing very, very well. He's in good spirits, and he's doing everything we could ask of him to get healthy and get better."

Kang posted impressive numbers in his first season in the bigs, hitting .287/.355/.461 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs, finishing third in NL Rookie of the Year voting.